Bar feeding apparatus



June 2-, 1970 R. L. SCHALLER ET AL 3,515,289

BAR FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. SCHALLER TOWNE. W flf/ w June 2, 1970 R. L. SCHALLER ET AL 3,515,289

BARFEEDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. '7, 1968 4 Sheets-5heet 2 INVENTORS. ROBERT L. SCHALLEF'I. Y DONALD L. TQWNE.

R. L. SCHALLER ET AL BAR FEEDING APPARATUS June 2,1970

Filed Oct. 7. 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 2

ROBERT L. SCHALLER. DONALD 1... TOW NE.

United States Patent 3,515,289 BAR FEEDING APPARATUS Robert L. Schaller, Camillus, and Donald L. Towne,

North Syracuse, N.Y., assignors to Sundstrand-Engleberg, Inc.. a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 765,592

Int. Cl. B65g 47/.04

US. Cl. 2141 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The bars are transferred from an inclined supply rack to a linear series of guide rolls located below and in laterally spaced relation to the lower edge of the rack. There are a series of extension members along the lower edge of the rack, the lower ends of the members being provided with bar stop means located in spaced relation to the guide rolls. The rack is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis located below the lower edge of the rack, whereby the inclination thereof may be changed and the extension members are also movable toward and from the rack about the same axis, whereby said members re main coplanar with the lower edge of the rack. A series of arms are pivotally mounted at like ends and, upon upward movement, engage the lowermost bar on the extension members to elevate it above the stop means for movement of the bar downwardly on the arms. The arms are then moved downwardly to deposit the bar on the guide rolls.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Our bar feeding apparatus embodies a structural arrangement particularly well adapted for successively feeding bars, rectangular in cross sectional form, from a supply to a bar working machine, such as shown in copending application, Ser. No. 750,259, filed Aug. 5, 1968, the arrangement being such that, during the feeding operation, the bars are not rotated about their axis. The bars are successively transferred from an inclined rack and deposited on a linear series of guide rolls which are located in axial registration with the guide rolls of the bar processing machinefor example, an abrading machine.

There are a series of bar receiving members mounted along the lower edge of the bar storage rack and forms a downwardly inclined extension thereof. A series of arms are pivotally mounted in juxtaposition to the series of guide rolls, the free ends of the bars being movable upwardly into engagement with the lowermost bar on the extension members, elevating the bar above the stop shoulders on the extension members and, upon downward movement of the arms, the bars are positioned on and between the guide rolls.

The bars vary in cross sectional dimension. It is important that the free ends of the transfer arms move into engagement with somewhat more than half the width of the bottom side surface of the lowermost bar on the extension member. With less engagement, the bar would simply be rotated on the members and not picked up by the transfer arms. On the other hand, it is important that the free ends of the transfer arms do not also engage the bar next above the lowermost bar. To take care of this situation, the transfer members are movable toward and from the storage rackthat is, the lower ends of the bar receiving members, provided with the bar stops, are moved toward and from the guide rolls and accordingly, toward and from the fixed axis about which the transfer arms are moved.

The lower end of the rack is pivotally supported so that the rack may be elevated to vary the inclination depending upon the size of the bars being processed. In order ice that the bar engaging surfaces of the bar receiving extension members will remain coplanar with the top surfaces of the rack rails, the extension members are also adjusted about the same axis as the rack. Accordingly, the extension bar receiving members form a smooth continuation of the rack rails, and the lowermost bar is positioned for correct engagement by the ends of the transfer arms as they are moved about their pivoted axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a bar feeding apparatus embodying our invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view, looking to the right in FIGS. 1 and 2, of the operating mechanism. In the View, the transfer arms have engaged and removed the lowermost bar from the extension members.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the framework.

FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, with parts in section, as indicated by line 55, FIG. 1. In this view, the transfer arms are about to engage the lowermost bar on the extension members.

FIG. 6 is a view, similar to FIGS. 3 and 5, in which the bar has been transferred to the guide rolls.

FIG. 7 is a view taken on line 7-7, FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view taken on line 8-8, FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The frame of the machine consists of vertical front and rear posts 10 and 11, located at the corners of the framework and also at the center thereof. Beams 12 are mounted on the tops of the posts 10 and 11, and extend from the front to the rear of the machine. Beams 13 are fixed between the rear ends of the beams 12, and beams 15 are fixed between the beams 12 intermediate the ends thereof.

Beams 17 are fixed between the posts 10, 11, at the lower portions thereof and are arranged below the beams 12. Lengthwise extending beams 18 are fixed between the lower cross beams 17. A series of vertical posts 20 are mounted on the beams 18 and support, at their upper ends, the rear ends of beams 21. The forward ends of the beams 21 are supported by beams 22 extending between the front posts 10.

The storage rack consists of a series of rails 23, the forward ends of which are fixed to posts 25, see FIGS. 3, 5 and 6. The posts 25 are fixed to hearing blocks 27 journalled on a shaft 28. The shaft 28 extends lengthwise of the machine and is journalled in blocks 30 mounted on the beams 12. The rear ends of the rails 23 are fixed to a lengthwise extending member 31, and certain of the rails are fixed to a beam 32. A pair of screw jacks 33 are pivotally mounted on brackets 34 fixed to the beams 13, see FIG. 3. The screws 35 of the jack are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the beam 32. The jacks are operated in unison by a motor drive 37. With this arrangement, the inclination of the rails 23 may be varied to effect the proper downward movement of the bars on the rails.

The pivot shaft 28 is located below the lower edge of the rack. Blocks 43 are also pivotally mounted on the shaft 28 and carry posts 44. Bar receiving extension members 45 are fixed to the upper ends of the posts 44. An angle plate 47 is fixedly secured to the posts 44 and the extension members 45, as by welding. Three jack units 48 are pivotally mounted on brackets 49 fixed to the cross beams 21. These jacks are similar to the jacks 34 and they are operated by a common power unit 50, see FIGS. 1 and 2. The jacks 48 serve to effect pivotal movement of the extensions 45 about the axis of the shaft 28. The rear top surface 53 of the extension members 45 are formed on a radius struck from the axis of shaft 28. Inasmuch as the rack rails 23 are adjusted about the axis of the shaft 28, and the members 45 are adjusted about the same axis, the cooperating top surfaces of the rails and extension members always remain coplanar so there is no interruption of the downward sliding movement of the bars from the rails 23 to the members 45. The lower ends of the extension members are formed with upwardly extending stop shoulders to form a stop for the lowermost bar positioned on the members 45, see FIGS. 5 and 6. The top surfaces of the rails and extension members are provided with antifriction material, such as Teflon, to permit free sliding movement of the bars by gravity to the stops 55.

The bars 40 are successively transferred from the members 45 to a linear series of guide rolls 57. These rolls are mounted on shafts 58 journalled in a hollow beam 60. The guide rolls 57 are arranged in a linear series along the beam 60 and are rotated by a variable speed power unit 61 operating a chain 63 trained over sprockets fixed on the shafts 58, see FIG. 1.

Angle brackets 65 are fixed to the forward ends of the cross beams 12. Supporting units for the beam 60 are fixed to the brackets 65. Each unit consists of lower and upper plates 67, 68, separated by a vertically disposed plate 69. The upper plates 67 are apertured to receive threaded studs 70 depending from beam 60 and provided with adjusting nuts 71, see FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7. A vertically disposed plate 72 is fixed to the inner ends of the plates 67, 68, and is formed with vertically extending slots 73. The beam 60 is provided on its inner surface with studs extending through the apertures 73 and provided with nuts 77.

With this arrangement, the beam 60 can be adjusted vertically by studs 70 and locked in adjusted position by studs 75 to bring the series of guide rolls 57 in alinement with the guide rolls of the bar finishing machine. The guide rolls 57 are formed at their outer ends with radial flanges 80. Transfer mechanism is provided for successively transferring the bars 40 from the extension members 45 to the guide rolls.

A beam 83, extending lengthwise of the machine, is disposed above the guide roll beam 60. An inverted T- shaped plate extends upwardly from each of the plates 68 carried by the supporting brackets 65. The beam 83 is provided with three pairs of spaced plates 87 arranged to straddle the plates 85 and are pivotally connected thereto by pins 88, see FIGS. 1, 3 and 5.

A series of members 90 are fixed, as by welding, to the inner side surface of the beam 83 and depend therefrom in a direction toward the guide rolls 57. An arm 91 is fixed to the free end of each of the members 90 and extends therefrom in a direction normal to the members 90 and the inner surface of the beam 83, toward the lower ends of the bar receiving extension members 45.

A cylinder 93 is pivotally connected at its lower end to a bracket 95 mounted on one of the beams 21, see FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the cylinder being located in the medial area of the machine, see FIG. 2. The piston rod 96 is pivotally connected at its upper end to one of the transfer arms 91. It will be apparent, the cylinder serves as power means to effect movement of the beam 83 and arms 91 about the pivot pins 88.

The general arrangement of the transfer mechanism and the length of the arms 91 is such that the free ends of the arms move in an are about the pins 88 in proximity to the stops 55 on the extension members 45. As previously explained, the members 45 are adjustable about the shaft 28 toward and from the rack rails 23. The reason for that adjustment is to position the lowermost bar indicated at 40A, FIG. 5, so that it will be engaged by the ends of the arms 91, and, upon upward movement thereof, to the position shown in FIG. 3, that bar will be elevated sufllcient to clear the stops 55, and the bar Will slide down the inclined arms and come to rest at the junction of the arms and the members 90, as shown in FIG. 3. By adjustment of the extension members 45,

the machine will accommodate bars of different cross sectional dimension.

It will be apparent that the ends of the arms 91 must overlap the bottom side of the bar somewhat more than half of the width of the bar. Otherwise the bar would be simply rolled in counter-clockwise direction on the members 45. On the other hand, if the members 45 are adjusted far enough toward the beam 83, two bars might be transferred, instead of one.

There is an additional advantage in the adjustment of the extension members 45. As indicated in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the bars are hollowthat is, they are of square tubular formation. On occasion, such square tubes are made by forming the stock about a mandrel and welding the abutting edges of the folded stock, the welding seam being exposed on one side of the tube. The abrading machine, in which the tubes are finished, is provided with a plurality of abrading heads. The first head, engaging an advancing tube, is provided with a coarse, fast cutting, abrading element to effectively remove the welding seam. The heads of the abrading machine are arranged to engage all four sides of the tube.

It is therefore important that the welding seam is always located on the same side of the tube as it enters the abrading machine. With our feeding machine, the tubes are placed upon the rail rack 23, with the welding seams 99 facing in one direction. As indicated in FIG. 3, the welding seams are on the upper or top sides of the tubes 40.

As previously stated, it is necessary that the free ends of the transfer arms 91 extend somewhat more than half way across the bottom sides of the tubes. Preferably, the arms engage about A to 78 of the width of the tube. If tubes three inches square are being handled, and the next batch of tubes are two inches square without any adjustment in the machine, the arms would extend past the lowermost tube on the extension members, but would engage less than half the width of the tube next above, whereby upon upward movement of the arms 91, the tube next above would be rotated in a clockwise direction, moving the welding seam from the top side of that tube to the rear side thereof, and the welding seam would not be engaged by the proper abrading head in the finishing machine.

With no bar present on the guide rolls 57 beneath the sensor indicated at 103 at the left end of the machine, FIGS 1 and 2, a time delay relay is energized to actuate a solenoid valve to provide fluid pressure at the lower end of the cylinder 93. This effects upward movement of the arms 91 about the pivot pins 88 to the position shown in FIG. 3. During this movement, the arms 91 have engaged the lowermost bar 40A, elevating it above the stops 55, whereupon the bar slides downwardly to the position indicated at 40A, FIG. 3. The time delay relay is timed to permit the arms 91 to remain in the up position long enough to permit the selected bar to arrive at the junction of the arms 91 and members 90. In this position, the free ends of the arms 91 serve as a temporary stop for the bar next above. When the relay times out, the fluid pressure is reversed to the cylinder 93, causing the arms 91 to swing downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 6. In the down position, the arms 91 are located below the top plane of the guide rolls 57. In other words, the transferred bar 40A is deposited on the guide rolls.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, the base flanges of the vertical plates 85 are formed with elongated slots 105 to receive studs 106 fixed in the plates 68. This arrangement permits fore and aft movement of the plates 85 and accordingly, the transfer assembly, whereby the transferred bar is positioned on the guide rolls 57 against the flanges 80 thereof. The assembly is locked in adjusted position by nuts 107 threaded on the studs 106.

The transfer bar is advanced to the left, FIGS. 1 and 2, into the bar finishing machine. When the trailing end of the bar passes from under the sensor 103, the transfer mechanism is again actuated.

The power units 37, 48, provide linear adjustments of the supply rack and extension members 45 and can accordingly be connected in to the numerical control system of the finishing machine whereby, upon readjustment of the finishing machine, the bar feeding apparatus is automatically adjusted accordingly.

It will be apparent that our bar feeding apparatus can be quickly adjusted by power mens to accommodate, and properly feed, all sizes of tubes and bars within the range of the machine. The inclination of the rack rails 23 is effected by the power unit 37 to provide for the proper sliding descent of the bars, or tubes, on the rails 23. The extension members 45 are adjusted by the power unit 50.

A guide roll 110, journalled on a vertical axis, may be mounted at the discharge end of the series of rolls 57.

What we claim is:

1. A bar feeding apparatus comprising a frame, a linear series of power operated bar supporting guide rolls mounted in said frame, a bar supporting rack mounted at one side of said series of guide rolls and adapted to support a supply of bars and being inclined downwardly toward said guide rolls, the lower edge of said rack terminating in upwardly and laterally spaced relation to said rolls, a series of bar receiving members extending from the lower edge of said rack toward said rolls, said members forming an extension of said rack and said members being provided at their lower ends with fixed bar stop means, bar transfer means mounted at the opposite side of said series of guide rolls and operable to transfer the lowermost bar from said receiving members to said guide rolls, said bar receiving members being movable in unison toward and from said rack to vary the distance between said stop means and said guide rolls, and power means operable to effect such movement of said bar receiving members.

2. A bar handling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bar receiving members are pivotally mounted on an axis located below the lower edge of said rack and extending parallel thereto, the top surfaces of said membees, in proximitiy to the lower edge of said rack, being curved downwardly On a radius formed from said pivotal axis whereby, upon movement of said members about said pivotal axis, said top surfaces remain coincident with the lower edge of said rack.

3. A bar feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the lower end of said rack is pivotally mounted on said axis, and power means connected to said rack and operable to effect movement thereof about said pivotal mounting to vary the inclination of said rack.

'4. A bar handling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bar transfer means includes a series of arms pivotally mounted at like ends to a support carried by said frame at said opposite side of said series of guide rolls, the free ends of said arms extending toward said bar receiving members and being movable into engagement with the under side of the lowermost bar on said bar receiving members to elevate the same above said stop means and, upon downward movement, to position the bar on said guide rolls.

5. A bar feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said transfer arms support is adjustable toward and from said bar receiving members.

6. A bar feeding apparatus comprising a frame, a linear series of bar supporting guide rolls mounted in said frame, a bar supporting rack mounted at one side of said series of guide rolls and adapted to support a supply of bars and being inclined downwardly toward said guide rolls, the lower edge of said rack terminating in upwardly and laterally spaced relation to said rolls, a series of bar receiving members extending from the lower edge of said rack toward said rolls, said members forming an extension of said rack and said members being provided at their lower ends with fixed bar stop means, said bar receiving members being movable in unison toward and from said rack, beam supporting means mounted on the frame, a beam pivotally mounted on said supporting means and extending along the opposite side of said guide rolls, a series of bar transfer arms mounted on aid beam and extending transverely of said series of rolls toward said bar receiving members, the free ends of said arms being movable, upon pivotal movement of said beam in one direction, into engagement with the under side of the lowermost bar on said bar receiving members to elevate said lowermost bar above said stop means and, upon pivotal movement of said beam in the opposite direction, to position said bar on said guide rolls.

7. A bar feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said beam supporting means is adjustable on said frame toward and from said bar receiving members.

8. A bar feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 6 and including reversible power means for effecting pivotal movement of said beam and transfer arms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,043,556 6/ 1936 Protin. 2,525,305 10/1950 Lombard. 2,751,781 6/ 1956 McConnell. 3,253,721 5/ 1966 Lakins.

FOREIGN PATENTS 24,645 2/ 1963 Germany. 132,933 10/1960 U.S.S.R.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner F. E. WERNER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 221-274 

